Apparatus systems and methods for proximity-based service discovery and session sharing

ABSTRACT

Methods and systems are provided that facilitate sharing or a hand-off of program content or a user session (e.g., running within a computer application) of a user device such that a user can easily select and then switch devices on which program content is being viewed or on which a user session is being run without having to sift through a myriad of other devices such as remote discoverable devices on the same network that are not in close proximity to the user device. A user device determines which of a plurality of discovered devices from which a short range wireless signal including a defined key was received and provides a list of discovered devices with which a session may be shared over the computer network with the user device based on this determination.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The technical field relates to data sharing and more particularly, toapparatus, systems and methods for sharing data and content betweendevices within close proximity to each other.

BRIEF SUMMARY

In one example embodiment, a proximity-based service discovery systemincludes a user device that receives information regarding a pluralityof discovered devices on a computer network. In response to receivingthis information, the user device sends instructions via the computernetwork to the plurality of discovered devices for the plurality ofdiscovered devices to each send a short range wireless signal includinga defined key.

The user device then receives a separate short range wireless signalincluding the defined key from one or more of the plurality ofdiscovered devices. This short range wireless signal is not received viathe computer network. The user device then determines which of theplurality of discovered devices from which the short range wirelesssignal including the defined key was received and provides a list ofdiscovered devices with which a session may be shared over the computernetwork with the user device based on this determination. This is suchthat a user can easily select and then switch devices on which programcontent is being viewed or on which a user session is being run withouthaving to sift through a myriad of other devices such as remotediscoverable devices on the network that are not in close proximity tothe user device.

In some embodiments, the discovery mechanism works in both ways. Forexample, the user device may emit a short range wireless signal to whichthe discoverable devices in proximity to the user device may respond.The discoverable devices in proximity to the user device may respondwirelessly directly to the user device in response to receiving theshort range wireless signal from the user device to enable the userdevice to determine which discoverable devices are in proximity to theuser device. Also, the discoverable devices may respond via the computernetwork to the user device such that the user device may receive anupdated list of discoverable devices in proximity to the user device. Inthis way, not all of the discoverable devices need to send a short rangewireless signal if they have already been established as being inproximity to the user device by receiving the short range wirelesssignal from the user device. The discoverable devices in proximity tothe user device may also use the short range wireless signal receivedfrom the user device to update and store their own lists of discoverabledevices with which a session may be shared over the computer network.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale relative toeach other. Like reference numerals designate corresponding partsthroughout the several views.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example communication systemin which embodiments of a proximity-based service discovery system maybe implemented.

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of aproximity-based service discovery system.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of interactions between portions of anexample embodiment of a proximity-based service discovery system.

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of example computing systems suitable forexecuting example embodiments of a proximity-based service discoverysystem.

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an example proximity-based service discoveryprocess.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram an example proximity-based service discoveryprocess from the perspective of a discovered device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

A. Environment Overview

FIG. 1 is an overview block diagram illustrating an examplecommunication environment 102 in which embodiments of a proximity-basedservice discovery system 103 are implemented. The proximity-basedservice discovery system 103 facilitates sharing, transferring or ahand-off of program content or a user session (e.g., running within acomputer application) of a user device 122 with discoverable devices 132that are on the same network and also within relatively close proximityto the user device 122. This is such that a user can easily select andthen switch devices on which program content is being viewed or on whicha user session is being run without having to sift through a myriad ofother devices such as remote discoverable devices 140 on the networkthat are not in close proximity to the user device 122.

It is to be appreciated that FIG. 1 illustrates just one example and thevarious embodiments discussed herein are not limited to communicationenvironment 102. In addition, communication environment 102 can includea variety of communication systems and can use a variety ofcommunication media including, but not limited to, satellite wirelessmedia.

Although various embodiments of the proximity-based service discoverysystem 103 are discussed with respect to a communication environment 102involving a one or more satellites 112, the various described techniquesmay apply to other types of content distribution systems, including butnot limited to, cable systems, fiber optic systems, telephony systems,and the like. In addition, in various embodiments, the communicationenvironment may provide various types of content, including, but notlimited to, audio (e.g., music, audio books, etc.), video (e.g.,television programs, movies, user-generated content, etc.), and otherdata content.

Service providers, including, but not limited to any combination ofcontent providers 104 a to 104 i, information providers 138 a to 138 iand program distributor 106 provide audio, video, and/or data tocustomers located at one or more customer premises 116 (e.g., PremisesA). This includes a multitude of audio/video and/or data programming(hereafter, collectively and/or exclusively “programming”). such as, butnot limited to, that provided by television service providers. Suchprogramming is often provided by use of a receiving device 118communicatively coupled to a presentation device 120 configured toreceive the programming.

Receiving device 118 interconnects to one or more communication sources(such as a cable head-end, satellite antenna, telephone company switch,Ethernet portal, off-air antenna, or the like) that provide theprogramming. The receiving device 118 commonly receives a plurality ofprogramming by way of the communication sources described in greaterdetail below. Based upon selection by the user, the receiving device 118processes and communicates the selected programming to the one or morepresentation devices 120 and/or mobile user device 122.

The receiving device 118 includes any type of media content receivingdevice, such as a “television converter,” “receiver,” “set-top box,”“television receiving device,” “television receiver,” “televisionrecording device,” “satellite set-top box,” “satellite receiver,” “cableset-top box,” “cable receiver,” “media player,” and/or “televisiontuner.” Accordingly, the receiving device 118 may be any suitableconverter device or electronic equipment that is operable to receiveprogramming. Further, the receiving device 118 may itself include userinterface devices, such as buttons or switches. In many applications, aremote 128 is operable to control the receiving device 118 and inaddition the presentation device 120 and other user devices 122.

Examples of a presentation device 120 include, but are not limited to, atelevision (“TV”), a personal computer (“PC”), a sound system receiver,a digital video recorder (“DVR”), a compact disk (“CD”) device, gamesystem, or the like. Presentation devices 120 employ a display 124, oneor more speakers, and/or other output devices to communicate videoand/or audio content to a user. In many implementations, one or morepresentation devices 120 reside in or near a customer's premises 116 andare communicatively coupled, directly or indirectly, to the receivingdevice 118. Further, the receiving device 118 and the presentationdevice 120 may be integrated into a single device. Such a single deviceor the mobile user device 122 may have the above-described functionalityof the receiving device 118 and the presentation device 120, or may evenhave additional functionality.

A plurality of content providers 104 a-104 i provide program content,such as television content or audio content, to a distributor, such asthe program distributor 106. Example content providers 104 a-104 iinclude television stations which provide local or national televisionprogramming, special content providers which provide premium basedprogramming or pay-per-view programming, and radio stations whichprovide audio programming.

Program content, which may include specific programs or sessions, iscommunicated to the program distributor 106 from the content providers104 a-104 i through suitable communication media, generally illustratedas communication system 108 for convenience. Communication system 108may include many different types of communication platforms, now knownor later developed. Non-limiting platform examples include telephonysystems, the Internet, internets, intranets, cable systems, fiber opticsystems, microwave systems, asynchronous transfer mode (“ATM”) systems,frame relay systems, digital subscriber line (“DSL”) systems, radiofrequency (“RF”) systems, and satellite systems. Further, programcontent communicated from the content providers 104 a-104 i to theprogram distributor 106 may be communicated over combinations of media.For example, a television broadcast station may initially communicateprogram content, via an RF signal or other suitable medium that isreceived and then converted into a digital signal suitable fortransmission to the program distributor 106 over a fiber optics system.As another nonlimiting example, an audio content provider maycommunicate audio content via its own satellite system to the programdistributor 106.

In at least one embodiment, the received program content is converted atthe program distributor 106 into a suitable signal that is communicated(i.e., “uplinked”) by one or more antennae 110 to one or more satellites112 (separately illustrated herein from, although considered part of,the communication system 108). It is to be appreciated that thecommunicated uplink signal may contain a plurality of multiplexedprograms. The uplink signal is received by the satellite 112 and thencommunicated (i.e., “downlinked”) from the satellite 112 to one or morereceiver antennas 114. It is appreciated that the format of theabove-described signals are adapted as necessary during the variousstages of communication.

A receiver antenna 114 that is within reception range of the downlinksignal communicated from satellite 112 receives the above-describeddownlink signal. A wide variety of receiver antennae 114 are available.Some types of receiver antenna 114 are operable to receive signals froma single satellite 112. Other types of receiver antenna 114 are operableto receive signals from multiple satellites 112 and/or from terrestrialbased transmitters.

The receiver antenna 114 can be located at customer premises 116.Examples of customer premises 116 include a residence, a business, orany other suitable location operable to receive signals from satellite112 or from network 136. The received signal is communicated, typicallyover a hard-wire connection, to a receiving device 118. The receivingdevice 118 is a conversion device that converts, also referred to asformatting, the received signal from antenna 114 into a signal suitablefor communication to a presentation device 120 and/or a user device 122.

User device 122 may be any suitable device that is operable to receive asignal from the receiving device 118, another endpoint device, or fromother devices external to the customer premises 116. Non-limitingexamples of user device 122 include cellular telephones, smart phones,personal digital assistants, notebooks or tablet computers, opticalmedia recorders, such as a compact disk (“CD”) recorder, a digitalversatile disc or digital video disc (“DVD”) recorder, a digital videorecorder (“DVR”), or a personal video recorder (“PVR”). User device 122may also include game devices, magnetic tape type recorders, RFtransceivers, and personal computers (“PCs”).

Interface between the receiving device 118 and a user (not shown) may beprovided by a hand-held remote device 128. Remote 128 typicallycommunicates with the receiving device 118 using a suitable wirelessmedium, such as infrared (“IR”), RF, or the like. Other devices (notshown) may also be communicatively coupled to the receiving device 118so as to provide user instructions. Non-limiting examples include gamedevice controllers, keyboards, pointing devices, and the like.

The receiving device 118 or user device 122 may receive programmingpartially from, or entirely from, another source other than theabove-described receiver antenna 114. For example, the receiving device118 and user device 122 may receive programs from communication system108 via any suitable medium. Non-limiting examples of mediumcommunicatively coupling the receiving device 118 to communicationsystem 108 include cable, fiber optic, or Internet media.

Customer premises 116 may include other devices which arecommunicatively coupled to communication system 108 via a suitablemedium. For example, the customer premises 116 includes a network 136 towhich receiving devices 118, presentation devices 120, discoverabledevices 132, and/or a variety of user devices 122 and remotediscoverable devices 140 outside the customer premises 116 can becoupled, collectively referred to as endpoint devices. All of theseendpoint devices may be discoverable on the network 136. These endpointdevices are discoverable by other devices on the network 136, forexample, by using a discoverable device protocol such as Universal Plugand Play (UPnP) or other network protocol. Discoverable device protocolssuch as UPnP permit networked devices, such as personal computers,printers, Internet gateways, Wi-Fi access points and mobile devices todiscover each other's presence on the network and establish functionalnetwork services for data sharing, communications, and entertainment.

The Non-limiting examples of network 136 include, but are not limitedto, an Ethernet, twisted pair Ethernet, an intranet, a local areanetwork (“LAN”) system, or the like. One or more endpoint devices, suchas PCs, data storage devices, TVs, game systems, sound system receivers,Internet connection devices, digital subscriber loop (“DSL”) devices,wireless LAN, WiFi, Worldwide Interoperability for Microwave Access(“WiMax”), or the like, are communicatively coupled to network 136 sothat the plurality of endpoint devices are communicatively coupledtogether. Thus, the network 136 allows the interconnected endpointdevices, and the receiving device 118, to communicate with each other.Alternatively, or in addition, some devices in the customer premises 116may be directly connected to the communication system 108, such as thetelephone 134 which may employ a hardwire connection or an RF signal forcoupling to communication system 108.

A plurality of information providers 138 a-138 i are coupled tocommunication system 108. Information providers 138 a-138 i may providevarious programs and/or services to the various devices residing in thecustomer premises 116, such as receiving device 118, discoverabledevices 132, user device 122, and/or remote discoverable devices 140.For example, information provider 138 a may provide requestedinformation of interest to such devices, such as audio, video, and/orother types of data. Information providers 138 a-138 i may furtherperform various transactions on behalf of a user of a receiving device,such as when a user purchases a product or service via a receivingdevice 118 and/or one or more other devices of the user.

The above description of the communication environment 102 and thecustomer premises 116, and the various devices therein, is intended as abroad, non-limiting overview of an example environment in which variousembodiments of a proximity-based service discovery system may beimplemented. The communication environment 102 and the various devicestherein, may contain other devices, systems and/or media notspecifically described herein. The customer premises 116 may differ fromone customer to another, may contain fewer, more and/or other devices,systems and/or media than those described herein.

As noted above, the content providers 104 a-104 i, the informationproviders 138 a-138 i, and/or the program distributor 106 may provideprogram content and/or various other types of content to a receivingdevice 118. In some embodiments, the content providers 104 a-104 i, theinformation providers 138 a-138 i, and/or the program distributor 106may restrict access to program content and/or other types of content,such that distributed content may only be viewed by and/or otherwiseaccessed by authorized users. In some instances, access to programcontent may be controlled by encrypting the program content, such thatonly authorized devices and/or users may access the program content.

The receiving device 118 and/or user device 122 may store or otherwisehave access to program content and/or other types of content receivedfrom various sources (e.g., content providers 104 a-104 i, informationproviders 138 a-138 i, program distributor 106), such as for use by auser of the receiving device. For example, in some embodiments, thereceiving device 118 or user device 122 may store program content, suchas for playback to a user of the receiving device 118 or user device 122using DVR/PVR technology, pay-per-view services, and the like. Programcontent may include television programs, movies, etc., and/or portionsthereof (e.g., clips). In addition, the receiving device may store orotherwise have access to various other types of content that may bepresented by or otherwise used by a receiving device, such as includingother audio/video content (e.g., user-generated content), audio content(e.g., music), image content (e.g., photographs), and/or various othertypes of information. In various embodiments, such program content andother content may be stored on various storage medium accessible to thereceiving device 118 or user device 122, including one or more harddisks included in the receiving device 118, user device 122 and/or otherdevices that the receiving device 118 or user device 122 may access viaa communication link (e.g., other discoverable devices 132), and/orother storage media (including removable storage media).

The various embodiments disclosed herein, provide techniques tofacilitates sharing, transferring or a hand-off of program content or auser session (e.g., running within a computer application) of a userdevice 122 with discoverable devices 132 that are on the same networkand also within relatively close proximity to the user device 122. Thisis such that a user can easily select and then switch devices on whichprogram content is being viewed or on which a user session is being runwithout having to sift through a myriad of other devices such as remotediscoverable devices 140 on the network that are not in close proximityto the user device 122. For example, such techniques may allow acustomer A to quickly discover and detect discoverable devices 132located on network 136 within proximity of user device 122 of customer Aand differentiate them from remote discoverable devices 140. Thisenables sharing of content or a user session of a user device 122located at customer A's premises with a group of one or morediscoverable devices 132 (e.g., friends, family, clients, etc.) locatedat the customer premises 116. Also, vice versa, such techniques allowother users (e.g., friends, family, clients, etc.) to share such contentor active sessions of their discoverable devices 132 with user device122 of customer A located at customer A's premises by quicklydiscovering and detecting user device 122 of customer A within proximityof one or more of the discoverable devices 132 located on network 136.

The shared content may be acquired directly from the endpoint device viathe network 136 or may be managed via or communicated through thecommunication system 108 under control of one or more content providers104 a-104 i or one or more information providers 138 a-138 i. Forexample, if user device has an active streaming video session fromcontent provider 104 a, and then discovers one or more otherdiscoverable devices 132 in proximity to user device 122 with which thesession is to be transferred, then content provider 104 a or informationprovider 138 a may receive an indication originating from user device122 to transfer the stream to the other discoverable device via thecommunication system 108. After having received and/or otherwiseacquired the session or shared content from customer A's user device122, from the content provider 104 a, or from the information provider138 a, the shared content may be presented by or otherwise used by theother discoverable devices 132, such as for presentation on the otherdiscoverable device 132 itself, an associated presentation device (e.g.,presentation device 120), displaying on a television or other display,playing on a speaker, or the like.

In some embodiments, access to shared content or session of a userdevice 122 may be restricted such that only groups of one or more otherdiscoverable devices 132 that are authorized to access the sharedcontent or session may access or otherwise use the shared content. In atleast some such embodiments, access to shared content of a first devicemay be restricted for use by a group of one or more authorized devicesby providing access control information to the first device that enablesthe first device to encrypt content that it shares with the group of oneor more authorized receiving devices, and separately providing accesscontrol information to the group of one or more other authorized devicesthat enables such devices to decrypt content that has been encrypted bythe first device. Thus, in such an embodiment, only devices that havebeen provided with the appropriate access control information maydecrypt content that is shared by the first device. In some embodiments,access control information is provided by a program distributor 106 tothe various devices via a satellite network comprising antenna 110 andsatellite 112. In addition, in at least some embodiments, some or all ofthe described techniques are performed by an embodiment of aproximity-based service discovery system, such as described in greaterdetail below.

Example embodiments described herein provide applications, tools, datastructures and other support to implement a proximity-based servicediscovery system. In the following description, numerous specificdetails are set forth, such as data formats, code sequences, and thelike, in order to provide a thorough understanding of the describedtechniques. Various of the embodiments described can be practicedwithout some of the specific details described herein, or with otherspecific details, such as changes with respect to the ordering of thecode flow, different code flows, and the like. Thus, the scope of thetechniques and/or functions described are not limited by the particularorder, selection, or decomposition of steps described with reference toany particular module, component, or routine.

B. Content and Session Sharing Overview

FIG. 2 is a block diagram illustrating an example embodiment of portionsof a proximity-based service discovery system 200. The systemfacilitates sharing, transferring or a hand-off of program content or auser session (e.g., running within a computer application) of a userdevice 122 with discoverable devices 132 that are on the same networkand also within relatively close proximity to the user device 122. Thisis such that a user can easily select and then switch devices on whichprogram content is being viewed or on which a user session is being runwithout having to sift through a myriad of other devices such as remotediscoverable devices 140 on the network that are not in close proximityto the user device 122. This is performed by user device 122 quicklydiscovering and detecting discoverable devices 132 a and 132 b locatedon network 136 within proximity of user device 122 and differentiatingthem with remote discoverable devices 140 a and 140 b with which contentor a user session may also be shared.

Various scenarios exist in which a user would want to transfer or sharethe content or current session running on their user device 122 to adifferent device. In one non-limiting example, if a user is currentlyviewing streaming video of a pay-per-view football game on their mobiledevice and then walks to their friend's house in which there is a devicewith having 60 inch wide screen display, the user may want to transferthe current streaming video session of the game onto their friend'sdevice having the 60 inch wide screen. In order to do this, the user'smobile device may be able to discover the device having the 60 inch widescreen on a universal plug and play (UPnP) network but there may also beseveral other devices on the network that are not even in proximity ofthe user's mobile device from which to manually sift through to selectto desired device.

As another example, two users in the same household may want to watchdifferent programs. If a first program is currently being displayed on afirst device (e.g., a television set), the first program can betransferred to be displayed on another device (e.g., a cellulartelephone) that is within proximity to the first device. In order to dothis, the user's television set may be able to discover the cellulartelephone on a universal plug and play (UPnP) network but there may alsobe several other devices on the network that are not even in proximityof the television set.

As another example, a user may be attending an exhibition where thereare many monitors displaying different content to the attendees walkingaround the exhibition center. One attendee may be interested in viewingthe content currently being displayed on one of the monitors, but doesnot want to stand in the same place in front of the monitor to finishviewing the content as the attendee is on their way to a differentmeeting. The attendee is able to stream a copy of the content beingplayed on the monitor to their own mobile device. In order to do this,the user's mobile device may be able to discover the monitor on auniversal plug and play (UPnP) network, but there may also be severalother devices on the network that are not even in proximity of theuser's mobile device that the user must manually sift through in orderto select to desired device.

As yet another example, a user may be attending a meeting at aconference which has a large monitor for presentations in the room inwhich the meeting is currently being held. The user may be called uponto answer a question during the meeting and decides that a showing avideo on the user's web site to the other meeting attendees on the largedisplay would be helpful. From their seat, the user is able to play thevideo on their mobile device and then transfer that streaming videosession to the large monitor in the conference room. In order to dothis, the user's mobile device may be able to discover the large monitoron a universal plug and play (UPnP) network, but there may also beseveral other devices on the network that are not even in proximity ofthe user's mobile device that the user must manually sift through inorder to select to desired device.

In order to quickly determine which devices are within proximity of theuser device 122, the user device 122 may automatically send instructionsover the network (e.g., LAN 210) to all the other discovered devices(e.g., devices 132 a, 132 b, 140 a, and 140 b) to emit a short rangewireless signal including a device identifier and/or a defined keydirectly to the user device 122 as shown in FIG. 2 , or alternativelyover a short range wireless network. When the signal is received by theuser device 122, it will enable the user device to determine which ofthose discovered devices are within proximity of the user device 122 andwhich are not because the short range wireless signal will only bereceived from those discovered devices that are within short rangewireless proximity of the user device 122.

For example, in response to information regarding the plurality ofdiscovered devices on the computer network 210, the user device 122sends instructions over the computer network 210 to the plurality ofdiscovered devices (e.g., devices 132 a, 132 b, 140 a, and 140 b) forthe plurality of discovered devices to each send a short range wirelesssignal including a defined key. The user device 122 then receives theshort range wireless signal including the defined key from one or moreof the plurality of discovered devices (in this case, devices 132 a and132 b). Although all the discoverable devices (132 a, 132 b, 140 a, and140 b) that are able to emit the short range wireless signal do so, onlythose that are in proximity to user device 122 are actually received byuser device 122. The user device 122 then determines which of theplurality of discovered devices from which the short range wirelesssignal including the defined key was received. The user device 122 thengenerates a list of discovered devices with which a session may beshared over the computer network 210 with the user device 122 based onthe determination of which of the plurality of discovered devices fromwhich the short range wireless signal including the defined key wasreceived. This is in order to determine which of the plurality ofdiscovered devices are in proximity of the user device by determiningthat only devices from which the short range wireless signal includingthe defined key was received are in proximity to the user device 122.

In the present example shown in FIG. 2 , discoverable devices 132 a and132 b were those from which the short range wireless signal wasreceived. Thus, the user device displays only those two devices 132 aand 132 b in a list as available in proximity to the user device, suchthat the user of user device 122 need only select from two devices towhich to transfer or share content or a session instead of all fourdevices 132 a, 132 b, 140 a, and 140 b. The number of devices is forillustrative purposes only and may vary depending on the total number ofdiscoverable devices on the LAN 210.

In some embodiments, the discovery mechanism of those discoverabledevices within proximity to each other works in both ways. For example,the user device 122 may emit a short range wireless signal to which thediscoverable devices 132 a and 132 b in proximity to the user device 122may respond. The discoverable devices 132 a and 132 b in proximity tothe user device 122 may respond wirelessly directly to the user device122 in response to receiving the short range wireless signal from theuser device 122 to enable the user device 122 to determine whichdiscoverable devices are in proximity to the user device 122. Also, thediscoverable devices may respond via the computer network 210 to theuser device 122 such that the user device may receive an updated list ofdiscoverable devices 132 a and 132 b in proximity to the user device122. In this way, not all of the discoverable devices need to send ashort range wireless signal if they have already been established asbeing in proximity to the user device 122 by receiving of the shortrange wireless signal from the user device 122. The discoverable devices132 a and 132 b in proximity to the user device 122 may also use theshort range wireless signal received from the user device 122 to updateand store their own lists of discoverable devices with which a sessionmay be shared over the computer network 210.

FIG. 3 illustrates examples of interactions between portions of anexample embodiment of a proximity-based service discovery system. Shownis user device 122 receiving a defined key 302 a from discoverabledevice 132 a and 132 b directly via a short range wireless signal. Thekey 302 a may have been initially communicated by the user device 122 aover the LAN 210 (shown in FIG. 2 ) to the discoverable devices 132 aand 132 b such that the discoverable devices 132 a and 132 b couldrespond with the same key over a short range wireless signal along witha device identifier to enable the user device 122 within range of thediscoverable devices 132 a and 132 b to differentiate the short rangesignal from other non-related short range signals (e.g., fromnon-discoverable stand-alone devices, or devices on other networks,etc.) and also to identify the particular device which sent the key. Inmany instances each discoverable device 132 a and 132 b may send adifferent key that specifically identifies the device, or the deviceidentifier may be used as a key if the device identifier is alreadyknown by the user device 122.

C. Example Computing System Implementation

FIG. 4 is a block diagram of example computing systems suitable forexecuting example embodiments of a proximity-based service discoverysystem. FIG. 4 shows a user device computing system 122 that may beutilized to implement an embodiment of content and session sharing logic302, and a server computing system 460 that may be utilized to implementan embodiment of the content and session sharing access service 202. Theserver computing system 460 may be provided by a program distributor(e.g., the program distributor 106 of FIGS. 1 and 2 ).

In one embodiment, the user device computing system 122 is configured toreceive and display programming on a presentation device. In addition,the user device 122 may comprise one or more distinct computingsystems/devices. Furthermore, each block shown may represent one or moresuch blocks as appropriate to a specific embodiment or may be combinedwith other blocks. Also, the content and session sharing logic 302 maybe implemented in software, hardware, firmware, or in some combinationto achieve the capabilities described herein.

In the embodiment shown, the user device comprises a computer memory(“memory”) 401, a display 402 (which is different that the display 124of other devices on the premises), one or more Central Processing Units(“CPU”) 403, Input/Output devices 404 (e.g., keyboard, mouse, CRT or LCDdisplay, and the like), other computer-readable media 405, and networkconnections 406. Content and session sharing logic 302 is shown residingin memory 401. In other embodiments, some portion of the contents of thecontent and session sharing logic 302 may be stored on and/ortransmitted over the other computer-readable media 405. The content andsession sharing logic 302 preferably executes on one or more CPUs 403 toshare and/or access shared content, and/or to configure the user device122 to perform operations related content sharing, as described herein.Other code or programs 430 (e.g., a user interface (“UI”) manager, anaudio/video processing module, a program guide manager module, a Webserver, and the like) and potentially other data repositories, such asdata repository 420, also reside in the memory 401, and preferablyexecute on one or more CPUs 403. Of note, one or more of the componentsin FIG. 4 may not be present in any specific implementation. Forexample, some embodiments may not provide other computer readable media405, etc. The other receiving devices 450 may include similar componentsand/or blocks to those described with respect to the receiving device116, although such are not shown in FIG. 4 here.

The content and session sharing logic 302 performs various of thedescribed functionality of the user device 122 related to content andsession sharing such as described with respect to FIGS. 2 and 3 above.For example, the content and session sharing logic 302 may determinewhich of the plurality of the discoverable devices 450 from which theshort range wireless signal including the defined key was received. Thecontent and session sharing logic 302 may provide a list of discovereddevices with which a session may be shared over the communication system108 via network 136 with the user device 122 based on the determinationof which devices of the plurality of discoverable devices 132 and remotediscoverable devices140 from which the short range wireless signalincluding the defined key was received.

Also, the content and session sharing logic 302 may receive and/orotherwise obtain access control information, such as provided via thecommunication system 108, and determine based on such information acryptographic content key to use for secure content sharing and/oraccess shared content generate, as well as perform encryption/decryptionas appropriate for sharing content in a secure content sharing group. Inaddition the content and session sharing logic 302 may interact via thecommunication system 108 with one or more other discoverable devices450, and possibly with the server computing system 460, and/or withother computing systems or devices (not shown), to perform various ofthe described operations related to content sharing.

The data repositories 420 may include content, such as programmingcontent and/or other types of content obtained from a programdistributor (not shown) and/or one or more other computing systems(e.g., content providers 104 a-104 i, information providers 138 a-138 ifrom FIG. 1 ), such as via communication system 108. The content may bereceived from various other sources, including the othercomputer-readable media 405 and/or other computing systems or devices(not shown), such as computing systems/devices located at a customerpremises with the user device 122, etc. As discussed elsewhere, suchcontent may include programming, clips, audio/video, audio, images,and/or other data files, etc. In at least one embodiment, at least someof the content included in the data repositories 420 may be encryptedfor restricted access by the user device 122 (e.g., by a programdistributor or other content provider) and may include one or morecorresponding encryption keys that are usable for decrypting at leastportions such content.

In this illustrated embodiment, the server computing system 460comprises a memory 461, one or more CPUs 463, Input/Output devices 464(e.g., keyboard, mouse, CRT or LCD display, and the like), and/orvarious other components (not shown), e.g., computer readable media,network connections, etc. The content sharing access service 202preferably executes on one or more CPUs 463 to detect and/or specify oneor more discoverable devices 132 and remote discoverable devices 140 andprovide this information to the user device 122. The content sharingaccess service 202 may also control to which device (e.g., user device122 and/or one or more discoverable devices 132 and/or remotediscoverable devices 140) a current session is being sent and to whichdevice a current session may be sent. Furthermore, each block shown mayrepresent one or more such blocks as appropriate to a specificembodiment or may be combined with other blocks. Also, the contentsharing access service 202 may be implemented in software, hardware,firmware, or in some combination to achieve the capabilities describedherein. In addition, one or more of the discoverable devices 132 andremote discoverable devices140 may include computing systems such as, orsimilar to, that shown in FIG. 4 of the user device 122.

The content sharing access service 202 performs various of the describedfunctionality, as described in FIGS. 2 and 3 . In particular, thecontent sharing access service 202 may interact with the user device 122and other discoverable devices 450 via the communication system 108 andnetwork 136, such as to configure and/or otherwise manage user devicesand discoverable devices 132 to participate in and or receive sharedcontent or sessions.

In an example embodiment, components/modules of the content and sessionsharing logic 302 and/or the Content Sharing Access Service 202 areimplemented using standard programming techniques. For example, thecontent and session sharing logic 302 and/or the Content Sharing AccessService 202 may be implemented as “native” executables running on theCPU 403 and CPU 463 respectively, along with one or more static ordynamic libraries. In other embodiments, the content and session sharinglogic 302 and/or the Content Sharing Access Service 202 may beimplemented as instructions processed by virtual machine. In general, arange of programming languages known in the art may be employed forimplementing such example embodiments, including representativeimplementations of various programming language paradigms, including butnot limited to, object-oriented (e.g., Java, C++, C#, Visual Basic.NET,Smalltalk, and the like), functional (e.g., ML, Lisp, Scheme, and thelike), procedural (e.g., C, Pascal, Ada, Modula, and the like),scripting (e.g., Perl, Ruby, Python, JavaScript, VBScript, and thelike), declarative (e.g., SQL, Prolog, and the like).

The embodiments described above may also use well-known or proprietarysynchronous or asynchronous client-server computing techniques. However,the various components may be implemented using more monolithicprogramming techniques as well, for example, as an executable running ona single CPU computer system, or alternatively decomposed using avariety of structuring techniques known in the art, including but notlimited to, multiprogramming, multithreading, client-server, orpeer-to-peer, running on one or more computer systems each having one ormore CPUs. Some embodiments may execute concurrently and asynchronously,and communicate using message passing techniques. Equivalent synchronousembodiments are also supported by an hardware device module (HDM)implementation. Also, other functions could be implemented and/orperformed by each component/module, and in different orders, and bydifferent components/modules, yet still achieve the functions of theHDM.

Different configurations and locations of programs and data arecontemplated for use with techniques of described herein. A variety ofdistributed computing techniques are appropriate for implementing thecomponents of the illustrated embodiments in a distributed mannerincluding but not limited to TCP/IP sockets, RPC, RMI, HTTP, WebServices (XML-RPC, JAX-RPC, SOAP, and the like). Other variations arepossible. Also, other functionality could be provided by eachcomponent/module, or existing functionality could be distributed amongstthe components/modules in different ways, yet still achieve thefunctions of an HDM.

Furthermore, in some embodiments, some or all of the components of thecontent and session sharing logic 302 and/or the Content Sharing AccessService 202 may be implemented or provided in other manners, such as atleast partially in firmware and/or hardware, including, but not limitedto one ore more application-specific integrated circuits (“ASICs”),standard integrated circuits, controllers (e.g., by executingappropriate instructions, and including microcontrollers and/or embeddedcontrollers), field-programmable gate arrays (“FPGAs”), complexprogrammable logic devices (“CPLDs”), and the like. Some or all of thesystem components and/or data structures may also be stored as contents(e.g., as executable or other machine-readable software instructions orstructured data) on a computer-readable medium (e.g., as a hard disk; amemory; a computer network or cellular wireless network or other datatransmission medium; or a portable media article to be read by anappropriate drive or via an appropriate connection, such as a DVD orflash memory device) so as to enable or configure the computer-readablemedium and/or one or more associated computing systems or devices toexecute or otherwise use or provide the contents to perform at leastsome of the described techniques. Some or all of the system componentsand data structures may also be stored as data signals (e.g., by beingencoded as part of a carrier wave or included as part of an analog ordigital propagated signal) on a variety of computer-readabletransmission mediums, which are then transmitted, including acrosswireless-based and wired/cable-based mediums, and may take a variety offorms (e.g., as part of a single or multiplexed analog signal, or asmultiple discrete digital packets or frames). Such computer programproducts may also take other forms in other embodiments. Accordingly,embodiments of this disclosure may be practiced with other computersystem configurations.

D. Processes

FIG. 5 is a flow diagram of an example proximity-based service discoveryprocess. In particular, FIG. 5 illustrates a process 500 that may beperformed, for example, as part of the content and session sharing logic302 executing on user device 122, such as illustrated with respect toFIGS. 2 and 3 .

The illustrated process 500 starts at 502. At 504, the user device 122receives information regarding a plurality of discovered devices on acomputer network 136. Each of the plurality of discovered devices is onthe computer network 136.

At 506, in response to the receiving information regarding a pluralityof discovered devices on a computer network 136, the user device 122sends instructions over the computer network 136 to the plurality ofdiscovered devices for the plurality of discovered devices to each senda short range wireless signal including a defined key. The computernetwork 136 may be a local area network including devices discoverableto the user device 122. The plurality of discovered devices may includeboth devices that are in proximity to the user device and devices thatare not in proximity to the user device.

At 508, the user device 122 receives the short range wireless signalincluding the defined key from one or more of the plurality ofdiscovered devices.

At 510, the user device 122 determines which of the plurality ofdiscovered devices from which the short range wireless signal includingthe defined key was received.

At 512, the user device 122 provides a list of discovered devices withwhich a session may be shared over the computer network with the userdevice based on the determination of which of the plurality ofdiscovered devices from which the short range wireless signal includingthe defined key was received. This is in order to determine which of theplurality of discovered devices are in proximity of the user device 122by determining that only devices from which the short range wirelesssignal was received are in proximity to the user device 122. The shortrange wireless signal may be, but is not limited to, one or more of: anaudio signal; a near field communication signal; an infrared signal; ashort range radio signal, an optical signal; a radio frequencyidentification signal; and a signal sent using a short range wirelessprotocol, etc. Also, the short range wireless signal may be receiveddirectly from the discoverable devices or over a variety of differentshort range wireless networks including a Bluetooth™ or other a personalarea network.

The process may also send a session from the user device over thecomputer network to a selected one of the list of discovered devices andmay include video (e.g., streaming video), audio or other data content.In some embodiments, sending the session includes sending a state of anapplication running on the user device over the computer network and mayoccur automatically once a selected one of the list of discovereddevices is selected.

In various embodiments, the process determines which of the plurality ofdiscovered devices sent the short range wireless signal by matching adevice identifier received via the short range wireless signal with astored reference device identifier of at least one of the plurality ofdiscovered devices. The device identifier may, for example, be ahardware device identifier (e.g., a MAC address) or a network address.

FIG. 6 is a flow diagram an example proximity-based service discoveryprocess from the perspective of a discovered device. In particular, FIG.6 illustrates process 600 that may be performed, for example, by acomputing system of one or more of the discoverable devices 132 a and132 b or remote discoverable devices 140 a and 140 b of FIG. 2 .

In FIG. 6 , the illustrated process 600 starts at 602. At 604, thediscoverable device (e.g., discoverable device 132 a) receivesinstructions over the computer network 136 to send a short rangewireless signal including a defined key. This is sent in order tofacilitate determination by a user device 122 on the computer network136 which of a plurality of discovered devices on the computer network136, including the discovered device 132 a, are in proximity of the userdevice 122.

At 606, the discoverable device 132 a determines whether the short rangewireless signal is able to be sent. In some instances, the device maynot have such short range wireless functionality.

At 608, if, based on the determination, the short range wireless signalis able to be sent, the discoverable device 132 a then sends the shortrange wireless signal according to the instructions. The process mayalso send one or more of a key and a device identifier of the in theshort range wireless signal. The discoverable device 132 a may furtherreceive a session from the user device 122 over the computer network 136in response to the sending the short range wireless signal according tothe instructions.

In some embodiments, the discoverable device 132 a may receive, inresponse to the sending the short range wireless signal including thedefined key, a response from the user device 122 identifying the userdevice and then send a session to the user device 122 over the computernetwork 136 instead of receiving a session form the user device 122. Thesending of the session by the user device 122 is also in response to thesending the short range wireless signal by the discoverable device 132a.

While various embodiments have been described hereinabove, it is to beappreciated that various changes in form and detail may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit and scope of the invention(s) presently orhereafter claimed.

1. A system comprising: a memory of a device; a processor coupled to thememory configured to: receive, from one or more of a plurality ofdiscovered devices that are on a computer network, a short rangewireless signal over a wireless network, wherein the receiving the shortrange wireless signal over the wireless network includes: receiving theshort range wireless signal not over the computer network on which theone or more of a plurality of devices were discovered by the device, butinstead over the wireless network, and separate from a discoverabledevice protocol used over the computer network; determine which of theplurality of discovered devices are in proximity of the device bydetermining that the one or more of the plurality of discovered devicesfrom which the short range wireless signal including a defined key wasreceived are in proximity to the device; enable a session to be sharedbetween the device and at least one of the one or more of the pluralityof discovered devices over the computer network by the processor atleast being configured to enable a session with at least one of the oneor more of the plurality of discovered devices over the computer networkthat is determined to be in proximity to the device.
 2. The system ofclaim 1 wherein the proximity is defined by a range of the short rangewireless signal.
 3. The system of claim 1 wherein the processor isfurther configured to send, not over the computer network, a short rangewireless signal to determine whether one or more of the plurality ofdiscovered devices on the computer network are in proximity to thedevice and wherein the receiving, not over the computer network, theshort range wireless signal from the one or more of a plurality ofdiscovered devices on the computer network is in response to thesending, not over the computer network, the short range wireless signalover the wireless network.
 4. A non-transitory computer-readable storagemedium having computer executable instructions thereon, that whenexecuted by a computer processor, cause the following method to beperformed: receiving, from one or more of a plurality of discovereddevices that are on a computer network, a short range wireless signalover a wireless network, wherein the receiving the short range wirelesssignal over the wireless network includes: receiving the short rangewireless signal not over the computer network on which the one or moreof a plurality of devices were discovered by the device, but insteadover the wireless network, and separate from a discoverable deviceprotocol used over the computer network; determining which of theplurality of discovered devices are in proximity of a device bydetermining that the one or more of the plurality of discovered devicesfrom which the short range wireless signal including a defined key wasreceived are in proximity to the device; and enabling a session to beshared between the device and at least one of the one or more of theplurality of discovered devices over the computer network by at leastenabling a session with at least one of the one or more of the pluralityof discovered devices over the computer network that is determined to bein proximity to the device.
 5. The non-transitory computer-readablestorage medium of claim 4 wherein the computer executable instructionsthereon, when executed by the computer processor, further cause thefollowing method to be performed: Send, not over the computer network, ashort range wireless signal to determine whether one or more of theplurality of discovered devices on the computer network are in proximityto the device and wherein the receiving, not over the computer network,the short range wireless signal from the one or more of a plurality ofdiscovered devices on the computer network is in response to thesending, not over the computer network, the short range wireless signalover the wireless network.
 6. A method comprising: receiving, from oneor more of a plurality of discovered devices that are on a computernetwork, a short range wireless signal over a wireless network, whereinthe receiving the short range wireless signal over the wireless networkincludes: receiving the short range wireless signal not over thecomputer network on which the one or more of a plurality of devices werediscovered by the device, but instead over the wireless network, andseparate from a discoverable device protocol used over the computernetwork; determining which of the plurality of discovered devices are inproximity of a device by determining that the one or more of theplurality of discovered devices from which the short range wirelesssignal including a defined key was received are in proximity to thedevice; and enabling a session to be shared between the device and atleast one of the one or more of the plurality of discovered devices overthe computer network by at least enabling a session with at least one ofthe one or more of the plurality of discovered devices over the computernetwork that is determined to be in proximity to the device.
 7. Themethod of claim 6 wherein the proximity is defined by a range of theshort range wireless signal.
 8. The method of claim 6, furthercomprising: sending, not over the computer network, a short rangewireless signal to determine whether one or more of the plurality ofdiscovered devices on the computer network are in proximity to thedevice and wherein the receiving, not over the computer network, theshort range wireless signal from the one or more of a plurality ofdiscovered devices on the computer network is in response to thesending, not over the computer network, the short range wireless signalover the wireless network.